PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luca Taparzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helio Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taparzo
vs
Gracie

191 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
210 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luca Taparzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Taparzo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Taparzo had a free shot at his head there.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Taparzo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Luca Taparzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie.
Gracie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taparzo defends well and Gracie ends up having to push Taparzo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taparzo misses with a body shot.
Gracie is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Taparzo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Taparzo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gracie looks winded!
Taparzo cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Luca Taparzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taparzo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gracie's head.
Taparzo missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taparzo digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Taparzo tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taparzo lands a body shot.
Taparzo misses with a series of wild punches.
Taparzo lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.
Gracie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taparzo defends well and Gracie ends up having to push Taparzo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taparzo lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taparzo lands with a shot to the body.
Taparzo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Taparzo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taparzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taparzo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taparzo lands with a right hand.
Taparzo stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Taparzo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taparzo.
Taparzo lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Luca Taparzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taparzo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taparzo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taparzo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taparzo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gracie's hands.
Taparzo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Taparzo lands a head shot.
A jab lands there for Taparzo.
Taparzo slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taparzo misses with a hook to the body

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Taparzo!
Sloppy strikes there by Gracie.
Taparzo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Taparzo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Taparzo is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Taparzo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Taparzo!
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Taparzo any problems.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Taparzo from standing up.

Taparzo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taparzo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Taparzo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Taparzo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helio Gracie's cut.
That's time! Taparzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taparzo connects with a looping right hand.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Taparzo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Taparzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Taparzo digs a good body shot into Gracie's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Taparzo counters with a straight right hand.
Luca Taparzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie.

Taparzo gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Taparzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taparzo stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie walks into a left hand.
Sloppy strikes from Taparzo. Those never looked like landing.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Taparzo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gracie is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Taparzo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Taparzo has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Taparzo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Taparzo won't allow it.

Gracie tightens his grip and picks Taparzo up, before dumping him to the ground. Taparzo manages to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taparzo is keeping the position for now.
Helio Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Taparzo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Taparzo get's back to his feet.
Taparzo scores with a nice strike.
Taparzo punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taparzo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Taparzo punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
Taparzo scores with a shot to the body.
Taparzo lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Taparzo.
Gracie walks into a stiff left hand from Taparzo.
Taparzo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
An attempted straight right counter from Taparzo misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taparzo lands a right hook to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Taparzo there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taparzo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taparzo.
Taparzo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie ducks right into an uppercut from Taparzo.
Donk. Taparzo catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taparzo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Taparzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into Taparzo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taparzo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Taparzo looking to control.
Taparzo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Taparzo wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Taparzo defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Taparzo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Helio Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taparzo lands a nice hook to Gracie's body. Gracie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Taparzo cracks Gracie with a good jab.
Taparzo lands with a good body shot.
Taparzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taparzo lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taparzo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Luca Taparzo is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taparzo scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Taparzo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Luca Taparzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie.
Taparzo scores with a hook.
Taparzo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Gracie is rocked!
Taparzo cracks Gracie with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Gracie falls to his knees and Taparzo doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luca Taparzo!
Luca Taparzo thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Helio Gracie spoke after the fight, saying 'I'd like to thank my opponent for giving me a chance making him better just by entering ring.'.